Andrei Vasilevskiy shuts out Sabres

Tip: Vasilevskiy ($5,200, 10.4% of cap) had allowed a combined eight goals in his previous two starts, but he took advantage of Buffalo's struggling offense tonight. He is strictly a matchp play at FantasyScore.

More Fantasy News

Seattle Mariners SP Felix Hernandez had a rough spring outing Tuesday, March 31, and manager Lloyd McClendon said Hernandez had tired legs after a strong leg workout earlier this week. The team has no concerns about Hernandez for opening day.

Tip: Hernandez ($8,400, 16.8% of cap) is the third most expensive player at FantasyScore for opening day next Monday. He'll be facing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Seattle. Hernandez should be as a good a starting pitching option as any to kick off the 2015 season.

New York Yankees OF Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique) said he’s feeling good and expects to play in a major league spring game soon. Ellsbury said he will be fine for opening day.

Tip: Ellsbury ($5,900, 11.8% of cap) hasn't played in a spring game since early March. He dealt with an injury last spring but came out of the gates hot in 2014, giving owners optimism that he could do something similar this year. However, being safe and holding off on Ellsbury in the opening week at FantasyScore makes sense.

Chicago Cubs SP Jon Lester (arm) wasn’t happy with his spring outing Tuesday, March 31, but he said he is ready for his opening night start against the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday, April 5. However, it doesn’t appear that he’ll be 100% for his first start of the season.

Tip: Lester won't be available at FantasyScore for his opening start. He should be considered a fantasy ace, but because he might have his pitch count capped in his first start, there should be consideration given to benching him against the Cardinals out of the gate in formats other than daily.

Florida State QB Jameis Winston weighed in at 231 pounds at his school’s pro day Tuesday, March 31, which was the same weight he was at during the NFL Scouting Combine last month. Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said the reports that Winston had gained weight after the season ended are false. The Buccaneers are expected to take Winston with the No. 1 overall pick, but they aren’t ready to firmly say that Winston will be their pick.

Tip: Winston is almost a surefire lock to be the top overall pick in this year's draft to the Bucs. He'll be worth a late-round flier in standard fantasy football drafts if he's starting in Week 1, but he'll be a shaky QB2 option.

Atlanta Braves OF Melvin Upton Jr. (foot) is expected to remove the protective walking boot from his left foot Friday, April 3. He’s missed most of spring training after being diagnosed with sesamoiditis, and he’s unlikely to be ready to return before May. OF Eric Young Jr. has had a strong spring and is expected to start the season as the team’s everyday center fielder. Upton has been able to hit in the cages with his boot.

Tip: Upton has essentially become an afterthought in most standard 12-team mixed leagues because of his injury and his last two poor seasons in Atlanta. Young Jr. is a popular sleeper option in the later rounds for his stolen base prowess, and he could continue to see consistent playing time in the team's outfield when Upton eventually returns. Young ($3,400, 6.8% of cap) should be a cheap option for stolen bases at FantasyScore, too.

Cleveland Browns WR Dwayne Bowe, who had zero touchdowns in 2014 with the Kansas City Chiefs, vows to be more productive with his new team in 2015. He said he has plans of ‘going back to the Dwayne Bowe of 2010′ when he scored 15 touchdowns in a breakout season. He has scored only 13 touchdowns in four years since. Bowe said the Browns plan to use him more downfield. Bowe hasn’t topped 801 receiving yards since 2012 and has dropped 31 passes in the last four years.

Tip: Bowe will likely be the No. 1 receiver in Cleveland, but that's not saying much, especially with the quarterback spot still unsettled. Bowe's best days are likely behind him, and he isn't very attractive for fantasy owners in his new digs as anything more than a late-round stab for receiver depth.

Tip: Franklin will still begin the season on the DL with his oblique injury, and Logan Forsythe will fill in at second. Franklin will take the job when healthy, so he might be worth a late-round selection in AL leagues only.